Best Judo Club Grand Rapids Near Me

Eric Boynton: Great place to train, learn and meet good people!

Sara Cawley: Craig is a knowledgeable and expert instructor. The people who train at the academy are friendly and open. Everyone is helpful.

Christoph Prem: Craig is a phenomenal trainer has built a great training environment.

Mike Brann: Craig is so knowledgeable in martial arts and self defense.Always patient while teaching. Highly recommend to learn self defense and get a great workout.

Jacob Harris: Master Craig is a very talented instructor who has a lot of skill conveying information to students, including newbies to martial arts / practical self defense. The atmosphere at Ronin Martial Arts Academy is very friendly and the community is full of friendly people.

Hollie McDonald: I started attending the Academy in January 2019. Since then, I've attended classes, tested for my next belt (passed- yay!), learned how to protect myself & others, and made life-long friends. Craig is an insanely talented instructor, but also an amazing human being. His approach is more holistic than I could have imagined- the physical and technical skills are incredible, but Craig also emphasizes protecting others through avoiding violence all together, how you can be a better member of society, and helps you understand how you and your actions can/should better the world around you. The personal growth I experienced includes becoming less of an aggressive-hard charger, and more of a thoughtful, intentional human trying to keep everyone a little safer. (As for the two-star review left by another reviewer SOLELY BASED ON A PICTURE, we'd love to welcome that reviewer at the Academy so they can learn more about how we keep ourselves and others safe, and why you need to get out of the way if someone is trying to stab you).

J Evans: Easily the best program and instructor in the state.

Jeff Riddle: WORLD CLASS. My wife and I recently attended a seminar for self defense reasons and were blown away. The owner/teacher Craig Gray clearly knows martial arts but perhaps more importantly, he's an outstanding teacher. He's patient, supportive, and creates a learning environment that's inclusive of all ages, genders, shapes, and sizes.In addition, the seminar was comprised of a community of the nicest people that went out of their way to make us feel welcomed.... a testament to Craig and his effort to shape a culture of support and inclusion. I was so impressed that I decided to join the academy and it's been the same experience with every class since.Highly recommend Ronin Krav Maga for those looking for an inclusive, safe place to learn effective self defense.

brandyn brown: Confidence and clarity are what I gain by training at the academy. What to protect, how to protect, and why we protect are themes that are interwoven throughout each class. And while physical fitness is not the primary focus, it's definitely a huge added benefit to attending classes. You don't have to be an athlete to train here, but you will feel like one if you do.

Jennifer Franson: I am a better person overall for training here! The class is challenging yet empowering as he teaches skills with ethical clarity and the class culture embodies a Protector community. Hopefully I won't have to use what I've learned but I am a much more confident person in the meantime!

DaitoryuNJ Aiki Jujutsu (Manny Jimenez): A perfect dojo to start or continue your martial arts journey. Very knowledgeable instructors.

Sugi Yama: After over a year of attendance, I will say that this dojo has high quality, welcoming, and wonderful instructors, and lots of opportunities for a variety of practices.I came into this dojo for their Shinkendo training a year ago with absolutely no prior martial arts experience, and I was pretty nervous. But Rodney and his students were super fun and welcoming, and I kept coming back to learn more. Rodney never gave me more than I could handle, yet always subtly pushed me to try harder and harder. He made my foray into the martial arts a really great experience.Later into training, I started training with Scott in Shinto Muso Ryu Jodo. His instruction is certainly a little more stern, but it has paid dividends as I've watched myself develop in the art. He takes great care in ensuring our technique is correct, and that we approach our training with the right mentality.Both Rodney and Scott's classes regularly feature visits and oversight from highly trained sensei, which serve as excellent supplements to their instruction.While I've personally never trained in the Daito Ryu program, the instructor, Hung, is a really wonderful man. Every time I see him, instructing or not, he is always very kind and compassionate. He is also highly knowledgeable in his arts. His students are lucky to have him!Overall, I have to say this is a wonderful place to learn martial arts. I've learned a great deal and met lots of amazing people here, and I still look forward to practice every day.

Chris Spencer: Positive:Communication,Professionalism,Quality,ValueGreat instructors, friendly, great atmosphere. Very knowledgeable.

ebiri nkugba: What a wonderful, open community for study.

Bruce Stevens: Nice influx of new students. Everyone handled the variety of techniques straight away.Excellent supplementary weapons training for the extended class.Look forward to more open-hand and Jo practice.

eli: great gym and amazing atmosphere. the coaches are awesome. BEST GYM !!!

Joe Saldin: Great community, with coaches who know what they’re doing. Would highly recommend if you’re looking for a new gym, or starting BJJ for the first time.

Michael Trupke: I trained there for about 6 months.Stopped because I saw one too many ACLs torn and bones broken. Coaches were nice neighbors but I wouldn't recommend training there if you're not all in on rolling and getting a serious injury. Not every gym is like that

cooper pratt: Great place to train filled with great people who make you feel welcome the second you step foot through the doors. Highly recommend

Justin Brennan: Daniel Gracie Team Michigan is hands down the best place to train BJJ in West Michigan. The team is competitive and will push you to grow your ability. The coaches have tremendous knowledge and will help you increase your skill level regardless of where you’re at on your journey. Top notch facility that they continue to upgrade as the school continues to grow. Can’t recommend enough, this is the place to train if you’re in West Michigan!

Willie Stokes: Instructors genuinely care for all their students. Higher belts are patient and work with you, all around great vibe… even when you’re getting after it

Sergio Gonçalves Fontes Fernandes: I love training there, the students and coaches are very good. The songs that coach miguel puts on during training are awesome!

Marianne Kantati: An excellent place to be, whether you are brand new to Jiu Jitsu/MMA, or experienced. This place feels like a community, and the coaches want every individual to be a success. I look forward to class, and attend every chance I get.The coaches have a systematic approach that is very helpful in building technique and muscle memory. I am able to see my progression from the start and how far I have come in such a short time. The trainer’s attention to detail and clear and concise instructions, make it easy to apply new techniques, correctly. If you want to up your game, meet great people, or just improve your overall fitness, I suggest signing up at this gym.

Chris Dabish: Great attitude at this gym, great instructors and teammates to learn from, always ready to answer questions. Both hobbyist and competitor friendly

Brian Vo: Awesome place and great coaches. Beginner friendly and don't make bets with Cody.

kirgin Tanis: Daniel gracie is the best jui jutsu gym in Michigan

Jailen Tatum: Best place to train

Stephan Urkel: This is the best places ever! Everyone welcomes you in and learn so much along the way. Been going for about a year now and one of the best decisions I made yet!!!

Wakana Narisako: Large facility with great instructors and friendly environment. Convenient location. Great place to start your bjj training.

Josh Anstey: This is the best academy in Michigan! Cohi and Miguel both welcomed me including all the other students! All around great coaches who push you to be the best regardless of what your goals are. Whether it’s to compete, get in shape, or make new friends. I’m grateful to be apart of a great team/family!

Pooh The Bear: Fantastic place to train❗️

Tate Cox: Great gym, great coaches, great price. Everybody is super friendly and classes are always fun. Not a single bad thing to say about this place.

Maria Casey: Thank you !!!

PJ Weigel: Daniel Gracie Grand Rapids has a group of knowledge and dedicated coaches. No matter what your goals are Cohi, Miguel, and Ron will help you reach them.

David St. Pierre: Feels like home

Jacob Richter: Will you re open? I couldn't find anything about this on the website and I hope you will.

Clayton Haveman: Critical:Professionalism

Brandon: Getting back into the martial arts was one of the best decisions I have made, espeically, Aikido. I am happy to have the opportunity to study Aikido in a traditional dojo with world class instructors and wonderful students.It is a place to train the whole person in martial capabilities, but also develop character.I am extremely grateful to have found Kyoseikan Dojo.

Luke LaVigne: An amazing place, professional and authentic. I’ve only been going here a few months and I absolutely feel like I am with family.

Johnny Trends: Top teachers & level of Aikido and Iaido available in the Midwest set inside a beautiful dojo, with nice mats, an inviting atmosphere, encapsulated by a true essence of martial arts.

Dave Stycos: A beautiful and nurturing place to develop your inner warrior!

Nathan Amthor: I just started taking Aikido here and already feel welcomed and at home. As a 39 year old man with no martial arts background, I felt very nervous, but everything is great so far.

Paul Van Schoyck: This is an amazing place to train. The instructors are incredible, passionate people who care deeply about transmitting their art. I couldn't recommend a place more!

Tim Maletic: Traditional martial arts -- aikido and karate -- in a beautiful setting. The people I train with here are dedicated but humble, and the instruction is both friendly and rigorous. This is a world-class dojo.

Michelle DeGraaf: My daughter is a newer student here. This program has already made such a huge difference in her confidence and skills! She has never been so motivated about anything. She LOVES her classes here and has seriously learned so much. I credit the teachers who strike a wonderful balance of challenging the kids while keeping it fun, engaging, and positive always!

Lori Blackburn: My son is not really into traditional sports, so this was a perfect fit for him! Sensei Sasa works well with everyone- students and parents alike and is definitely an asset to this organization.

Rachel Lynn: Enrolling my 6-1/2 year old son at PMA was one of the best decisions I've ever made. In just a few months of practice, I have seen his behavior and attitude improve greatly. This is not just about karate. This is about confidence, discipline, and personal growth. This is a transformational experience that I would recommend to anyone. I was so impressed with PMA and the amazing instructors that I also enrolled and I love every class. Thanks for the amazing work you do!

Robyn Sackeyfio: Great dojo with nice, patient people who are committed to helping our kids improve themselves.

Nathan Freier: Our daughter found her calling here! Knowledgeable and supportive instructors!!! Great place to learn martial arts and life skills!

Craig Mulica: My son loves this program! Excellent instructors and good teaching of physical and emotional/moral technique!

elizabeth velker: Love Premier! The instructors are so amazing with my kids, and the positive messages they teach make a huge difference! It’s not all punches and kicks, it’s character development and helping community. Thank you Premier!Betsy Roth

Jason Wheeler: This is an amazing school with very knowledgable, dedicated, and kind instructors. I highly recommend Premier for both parents with interested kids and for adults as well. I think their greatest asset is the experience and thoughtfullness of the instructors...I've trained in several gyms, schools, and dojos over the years and this is a high-level experience full of lessons to be learned on and off the mats. Sign Up and see for yourself.

James Sterling: Hi to all of the PMA family.I am the old guy that comes on Wed. and Sat. I look forward to class night so much.I believe that David and Sasa are the best instructors this old guy could have.(61yrs) PMA has been may Physical therapy class.I can move my head and shoulders better now since being a member. I feel that David and Sasa are a great guys along with a great instructors. Keep up the great work I look forward to class time. James

Rafael Barradas: I’ve always wanted to learn self-defense, but the other places I’ve gone to check out I’ve never felt comfortable with until I came to this place and everything was very different. I really like the treatment I receive from the owners and teachers.I recommend them.Siempre quise aprender defensa personal, pero los otros lugares a los que fui a visitar nunca me sentí cómodo hasta que llegué a este lugar y todo fue muy diferente. Me gusta mucho el trato que recibo de los dueños y profesores.Los recomiendo

Tedd O'Neill: Vince Kasaba is an excellent instructor. He maintains a safe, respectful learning environment. He will gladly spend time with you to answer your questions regarding Systema.

Tiffany Emelander: Good food.

Nate Slusher: I have trained Russian Martial Art with Vince for a few years and have found him to be both an excellent practitioner as well as teacher. The facility is great and I would recommend for people of all ages, due to his sensitivity towards training in a way that works for each students physical conditioning and injury history! highly recommend!

Richard Taracks: I visited this school and worked with Master Kasaba. I had a great time and his knowledge of Systema and the depth his understanding I very impressive. I am very happy with this school.

Kyle Scace (AWF1 Scace): I can't speak highly enough of this gym and its fantastic community of people. From the moment I walked in and took advantage of the free week of unlimited classes, I was hooked. There's simply no other place in the Midwest that can match the vibe and camaraderie here. Best of all, nobody has an ego or is trying to hurt you - it's a friendly and welcoming environment for competitors and hobbyists alike. Professor Tony is an incredible instructor who takes the time to explain techniques in multiple variations and provides clear guidance. Highly recommend!

Jay Clancy: I am so glad I started training at Kraken Jiu Jitsu. Professor Tony's instruction style makes it very easy to learn and is the best I have ever experienced. The way training is structured gives the student the ability to practice multiple facets of Jiu Jitsu including standup and takedowns. The facility is very clean and spacious. Training is hard and effective without compromising safety. If you want to learn and push yourself to be better-come to Kraken Jiu Jitsu. I do not think you will regret it.

Trevor Mathews: This place is awesome!I couldn’t continue going because the drive to the dojo is so long from my house, but i badly wanted to keep going to this place.The sensei is very respectful and easy to see as a role model.Theres no swearing, everyone is extremely friendly, and the dojo itself looks and is great with its clean and hygienic standards and a grade A rolling mat to work on.The practice room itself is all white including the walls and that is because their standards will keep it white.My first day there was free, the sensei chose a student of his to stick with me throughout the entire class. I never felt lost or overwhelmed and everyone always was checking up on me making sure everything was fine.The class was very educational, fast paced (but not too fast), and interesting.The amount of time spent practicing each move was a perfect amount for both ukes and as soon as a lesson was over the next one was ready to start.Absolutely best dojo I’ve been too out of any martial art I’ve been in! If I could rate this place higher I would.Please take the free class. It might be the greatest thing you ever do!

Jake F-S: Kraken Jiu Jitsu provides a great learning environment for all ages! Professor Tony is very knowledgeable and exhibits a teaching style that is easy to understand. My kids and I leave every class feeling more confident in our abilities. It is amazing how many new skills we have developed in such a short time! I highly recommend joining Kraken Jiu Jitsu for a multitude of reasons!

Steve Cos: I train at another gym and I dropped by Kraken to train with some friends who go here. Professor Tony was extremely welcoming as were all of his students. The gym is very clean and run very safely. I would definitely recommend this gym whether you are brand new to jiu-jitsu or have already have some experience. I will definitely be back. Thank you Professor for letting me train with you.

Easton Lemke: Kraken jiu-jitsu is a beautiful & modern facility run by Professor Tony. Tony is a great teacher and a seasoned competitor. Classes are structured so well, and techniques are worked on over the course of a week so you have numerous classes to learn the information. He explains and demonstrates the fine details and makes it a point to make sure each and every person understands. I can't say enough positive things about this academy and highly recommend trying a class if you've been thinking about it. Tony offers children's classes too and everything I said applies to those classes as well, plus the benefits of jiu-jitsu is huge for children!

Bao Nguyen: Tony understands the body mechanics of jiu jitsu, and has an answer for every question you may have. He’s a true professor of the art. The teaching method slowly acclimates you to the motions and your minds understanding of techniques.

Taylor Pineda: I have had an excellence experience here! Tony is very knowledgeable, down to earth and willing to take the time to teach you things you don't understand or are new to. Safety is an important value as well. 10 out of 10 recommend.

Dennis Smith: Professor Tony provides a great place to learn and openly shares years of experience in a way that is easy to follow. He has a great team that helps him teach the children's class too. Our family looks forward to every class.

Scott Walburn: I wanted to wait to post a review until I had been training longer but I just can't say enough positive things about Kraken Jiu Jitsu. I'm an old guy with plates in my shoulder, wrist, and I am coming off knee surgery. I'm 45 and thought I missed my window to try something like this. The teaching has been spectacular. The professor does an amazing job and I absolute love it. If you are on the fence you owe it to yourself to give it a try. I just can't say enough positive things about it.

Troy Patin: Very nice and clean facility and a great learning environment professor Tony is very knowledgeable and his classes are super fun and students learn a lot in each class. Professor Tony and Everyone else there welcome new students and are very helpful with inexperienced students.

Steve: Great first class at 6am, wasn't overcrowded, place was clean, coach was awesome, I had an excellent experience! You should try it because if you don't the spirit of BJJ will come to you during morning coffee & toe hold you until the word wilco is spoken. No pressure. In all seriousness it was great & I highly recommend it.

Max Gulab: Came in for the free trial and loved the environment. Professional well run class with a great instructor. I will happily return and would highly recommend.

Mark Gulab: Extremely inviting and well rounded instruction. Highly recommended and I will return.

M V: After relocating to the west side of the state, I’ve been trying out several of the schools in the area. All of them have been great but Kraken is by far the best. There’s a great environment to learn here and professor Tony has a background and pedigree that can help and propel anyone from white to black belt. This is my new home to train and I encourage everyone to check it out.

Boyd Bryant: Throughout many years I have trained with and learned from professor Tony and I have always been able to receive information to grow in my own jiu jitsu journey from my first day as a white belt until current. He has a unimaginable depth of knowledge and an approach to teaching that just clicks. Kraken is the place to learn real jiu jitsu that works.

Khaldoon Bushnaq: Having had the honor and pleasure of training with Professor Tony for several years, it’s great to see he has now established his own academy with Kraken Jiu Jitsu. Professor Tony has and continues to be a valuable resource to anyone looking to learn or improve their BJJ game. As well as understanding the fundamental principles of self defense. He has routinely coached me through various sticking points I would face on the mats, using succinct and relatable instruction, that allowed me to quickly make the necessary adjustments and progress in my learning. For anyone looking to learn solid, applicable BJJ and self defense techniques that really work, look no further than Professor Tony and Kraken Jiu Jitsu.

Derrick Salinas: I’ve trained with Professor Erard for the last 8-9 years and the knowledge he has given me changed the way I view BJJ as a whole.

25TReynolds: I have a black belt in BJJ and a little over 14 years of training experience. Professor Tony is easily among the most talented and unique instructors I’ve ever had the pleasure of training with. He has a thorough understanding of the nuances of Jiu Jitsu and is incredibly dedicated to conveying that information to his students. To this day the majority of my development is due to the hard work he has put into my training. You would be hard pressed to find a better academy/training experience than Kraken Jiu Jitsu.